Potter publisher buys Whitaker's

HARRY Potter publisher Bloomsbury is buying Whitaker's Almanack, one of the world's best-known reference books. Bloomsbury is paying The Stationery Office £750,000 in cash for the title, which will sit in the firm's A&C Black unit, alongside books such as Who's Who.

Bloomsbury added that it was confident of hitting its targets for the year ending December 2002. Its forecast excludes a contribution from the fifth Potter novel, which would not now be published until next year.

Chief executive Nigel Newton said the Whitaker's brand could be developed for print and electronic products.